As Dr. Gordon Freeman, you were last seen exiting City 17 with Alyx Vance as the Citadel erupted amidst a storm of unknown proportions. Now, in Episode Two, you must battle and race against Combine forces as you traverse the White Forest to deliver a crucial information packet stolen from the Citadel to an enclave of fellow resistance scientists.

Episode Two is the second of a planned trilogy of games that extends the award-winning and best-selling Half-Life adventure. Unique weapons, vehicles, and new creatures, friends, and enemies all make an appearance.

During the past month, I have done basic experimental remixes of various tracks from Half-Life 2 and have been experimenting with shield scanners. Since this month was mostly focused on the remixes, level design has not received much attention apart from a few tweaks and texture swaps.

For January, I hope to expand the exterior portion of the “Introduction” chapter and hopefully get at least a display worthy render complete.

Some of the remixed tracks that were done this month are featured below. Since I am no music composer, these remixes are mostly just basic alterations (reversals, speed, tempo and pitch changes). I did manage to create a few of my own sound samples which I blended in with some of the tracks from Half-Life 2.

Although I initially planned to use both shield scanners and city scanners in the modification, it seemed to make more sense to just focus on one of the two rather than trying to implement both of them as some sort of gameplay mechanic.

Unlike the city scanner, the shield scanner serves a wider purpose than just acting as a surveillance drone for Overwatch. Not only can it provide reconnaissance to Civil Protection teams, but it can also deploy hopper mines. I have been experimenting with the idea that its Matrix-like claw that hides within its shell can not only be used to deploy hopper mines, but also to conduct maintenance on Combine infrastructure. The whole “claw-scanner” in itself reminds me of the “Doc Bot” that releases Neo from the factory in the Matrix.

A screenshot shown below displays a rather unsuccessful attempt at using their synthetic grappler as being able to discharge a laser similar to that on “stalkers”.

Progress is slow, but I always try to get at least something done every week.

ok i bought all half life 2 games (hl2 ep 1+2) i installed them. i have windows vista and the recomended requirements. but when i play any of these (lost coast included) they are really really laggy. any tips?